Does the TRD exhaust get louder over time?

Hey Everyone,

I purchased the TRD exhaust for my truck and finally got around to installing it this morning. At first glance, I was very excited with the black chrome tip and the quality of the system itself but when I went to crank the truck up, it literally sounds the same as stock. Driving it around, I couldn't really tell much difference at all except under WOT and even there, the difference was VERY negligible. Even on the highway, most aftermarket exhausts will have a slight drone but I think my stock muffler has more drone that this one does and this is still basically a brand new truck. Being from the actual vehicle manufacturer, I wasn't expecting a "wake the whole neighborhood up straight pipe sound," but I feel like I essentially paid for a nice exhaust tip (it does add a nice touch.)

My question is over time, does the muffler itself "break in" and develop a different/slightly louder tone? I ask this because I know from experience that as Flowmaster mufflers (my usual go to) age, they get louder but wanted to try something else since this is a V6. I can always immediately tell the difference upon start up with a new muffler but this one has me baffled. Had I known this, I would have just had my local muffler shop throw on a new muffler and tip and call it a day for about 1/4 the price.

 

Yes. When it fails or leaks.

 

I can only speak for the 4.0 but no, it doesn’t get louder. With that said, I noticed a difference right away and have been very happy with it. I’m curious to see what the 3.5 guys have to say.

 

Yes, as the muffler degrades due to exhaust gases, heat/cold cycles, corrosion......

Any exhaust will degrade over time.

 

Lol ouch.

Yeah, I actually watched a few on youtube out of curiousity as well and it appears it sounded louder for the 4.0 for some reason. Listened to a few different videos including a few TRD pros and to me, even they sound about stock

 

Had mine for year and half on the v6 manual and haven’t noticed it any louder since install date but as other said it will when it starts to fail. Was it louder then stock? Yes it was and it sounded better too. Was it overly loud? No. All that said I put the intake on at the same time and I notice both when getting on the highway or with windows down but if I’m cruising with them up I can’t hear it much more then stock

 

I had one on my 4.0 and on my 2019 Pro.

The 3rd gen trd exhaust is much quieter, and I agree, sounds almost exactly like stock.

The 4.0 I could definitely tell the difference.

 

The muffler itself has no seam on the side, which will save your frame when that eventually blows out. The sound difference is subtle, but it is there. From my understanding, it is more pronounced with a different intake. But, either way, don't expect the kind of sound you'd get from someone like a Magnaflow or MBRP. Not to mention this is a V6 and not a V8 so it can only sound so good.

 

Be thankful it’s only that loud. IMHO, the TRD exhaust is the best middle ground between no sound and too much.

 

If you want noise just swap in a muffler to your stock exhaust. Flowmaster 40 series will make lots of noise.

Oh amp and subs too at least 1000 watts. If you wanna be a noisy jagoff might as well do it right.

 

I have the TRD Performance Exhaust (CatBack) on both my 2006 TRD OR and my soon to be delivered 2021 TRD OR. I'd have to say that the '06 is a bit more apparent than the '21 which is probably due to the different engines. I have driven my '21 Taco and the exhaust tone is noticeable, but not the same from the driver's seat as the '06 is. Others have commented that my '06 is "loud." I don't feel it is too loud however, and I think it has a nice tone to it. I suspect the '21 will sound just fine from a place other than the driver's seat. Food for thought - the system on my '06 is the original - 14 years and 126K miles. The only repair needed was a gasket between the exhaust manifold & cat.

 

I have 38k on my truck with a TRD exhaust and still sounds like it did when I put it on with 500 miles on the truck.

 

On my previous vehicle I had an OEM performance exhaust (Infiniti Q50 helmholtz) and it stated that the exhaust would get more quiet the more you drove due to carbon buildup or something..which it did. I assume it would be the same here.

 

That’s what I’ve heard about the TRD exhaust and why I’ve considered getting one. I just want a little more sound and better tone. It’s just so pricey!

 

Last weekend we test drove the Sport and the Pro back to back and the Pro with the TRD exhaust is just a little louder. Not sure if the price per decibel would be worth buying it vs a aftermarket one?

 

itll get louder, but not by much. when you couple a performance ypipe on there like one from urd, youll change the tone of your exhaust plus itll get more audible as well. still though, even with that, its still not that aggressively loud. trds whole thing behind that exhaust was no drone, with some sound. on that front it delivers. i have this setup on my truck, and i like it, but i want my truck more audible as well, and so im gonna change out my trd and either go full urd or see what widowmaker is all about. saw a few clips and it sounds good.

 

I've had mine for a little over a year and it has stayed the same. I bought it because it wasn't overly loud and no drone. Love it.

 

As been communicated many times on this forum, the TRD Exhaust isn't so much about being loud, but gives a much deeper HP like tone than stock. Very pleased with mine.
Surprising you can't tell the difference.

 

I have the trd exhaust with trd cai. It’s a little louder (throaty) than the stock set up. Has a little more when you get on the gas. I like it. You are not going to hear much difference in the cab and that’s what I like about it. Not sure how it is without the trd cai as I have both. Just load enough to know it’s not stock but quite enough to not annoy me. If you want it to sound like a mustang that’s not gonna happen without glass packs

 

And you passed your last hearing test in all ranges?